Psalm 88

Psalm 88 1For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. LORD, you are the God who saves me. Day and night I cry out to you.

2Please hear my prayer. Pay attention to my cry for help.

3I have so many troubles I’m about to die.

4People think my life is over. I’m like someone who doesn’t have any strength.

5People treat me as if I were dead. I’m like those who have been killed and are now in the grave. You don’t even remember them anymore. They are cut off from your care.

6It’s as if you have put me deep down in the grave. It’s as if you have put me in that deep, dark place.

7Your great anger lies heavy on me. All the waves of your anger have crashed over me.

8You have taken my closest friends away from me. You have made me sickening to them. I feel trapped and can’t escape.

9I’m crying so much I can’t see very well. LORD, I call out to you every day. I lift up my hands to you in prayer.

10Do you do wonderful things for those who are dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

11Do those who are dead speak about your love? Do those who are in the grave tell how faithful you are?

12Are your wonderful deeds known in that dark place? Are your holy acts known in that land where the dead are forgotten?

13LORD, I cry out to you for help. In the morning I pray to you.

14LORD, why do you say no to me? Why do you turn your face away from me?

15I’ve been in pain ever since I was young. I’ve been close to death. You have made me suffer terrible things. I have lost all hope.

16Your great anger has swept over me. Your terrors have destroyed me.

17All day long they surround me like a flood. They have closed in all around me. 18You have taken my friends and neighbors away from me. Darkness is my closest friend.